Collecting characteristics for a path between IP end-points associated with a radio access transport network

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a radio base station in a radio access network, of collecting characteristics for a path between two IP end-point associated with a radio access transport network to which the radio base station is connected, the method comprising the steps of; receiving an IP address of at least one IP end-point associated with the radio access transport network to which the radio base station is connected; sending a query to a node, in the radio access transport network, for at least one characteristic for a path between two IP end-points. And receiving the at least one characteristics for the path.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/109,185, which was filed on Jun. 30, 2016, which is anational stage application of PCT/SE2014/050239, filed Feb. 27, 2014,the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method, performed in a radio basestation in a radio access network, of collecting characteristics for apath between two IP end-points associated with a radio access transportnetwork to which the radio base station is connected.

The disclosure also relates to a radio base station of collectingcharacteristics for a path between two IP end-points associated with aradio access transport network to which the radio base station isconnected.

BACKGROUND

3GPP Long Term Evolution, LTE, is the fourth-generation mobilecommunication technologies standard developed within the 3rd GenerationPartnership Project, 3GPP, to improve the Universal MobileTelecommunication System, UMTS, standard to cope with futurerequirements in terms of improved services such as higher data rates,improved efficiency, and lowered costs. The Universal Terrestrial RadioAccess Network, UTRAN, is the, RAN, Radio Access Network of a UMTS andEvolved UTRAN, E-UTRAN, is the RAN of an LTE system.

In the future, new radio coordination features are planned for LTE.Examples of new radio coordination features are CoMP, CoordinatedMultiPoint, ABS, Up-link and/or down-link Almost Blank Sub-frames, RPS,Reduced Power Sub-frames, eICIC, Enhanced Inter-Cell InterferenceCoordination. The different radio coordination features can becategorized in three different groups, namely; flexible, tight and verytight coordination features. The different radio coordination featuresall put different levels of requirements on the radio access transportnetwork to be able to use these radio coordination features. As anexample the delay required for different radio coordination functionsvaries between sub 1 millisecond to 100 milliseconds. Similarrequirements are placed for synchronization and for bandwidth in theradio access transport network. The radio access transport networkhandles data traffic between the radio base stations and between theradio base stations and the core network.

Today's RAN's lack information on the radio access transport networkcharacteristics, e.g. characteristics between RBS, Radio Base Station,neighbors as well as between RBS and S/PDN-GW, Serving Packet DataNetwork-Gateway, and the RNC, Radio Network Controller. It isproblematic for the RAN to select the optimal radio coordinationfeatures when lacking knowledge of radio access transport networkcharacteristics and synchronization accuracy. This results in suboptimal use of resources in the RAN as well as in the radio accesstransport network, and in the end non-optimal end-user performance.

Thus, the RBS, which decides what radio coordination features to use,has no or very little information of radio access transport networkcharacteristics, e.g. if the synchronization method is accurate enoughor if the delay and bandwidth between neighboring RBSs is sufficient tobe used for a specific radio coordination feature. Active measurementslike TWAMP/BART, Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol/Bandwidth Availablein Real Time, does not have access to the real radio access transportnetwork characteristics, instead it tries to estimate the radio accesstransport network characteristics based on injecting test traffic.

IETF, Internet Engineering Task Force, has released several drafts inthe area of an application I2RS, Interface to Routing Systems, e.g.https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/i2rs. The architecture of I2RS allows anapplication to query and modify the state of the transport network. Thearchitecture describes requirements, and the draft “Use Cases of I2RS inMobile Backhaul Network, https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/i2rs, describesuse cases for mobile backhaul and the radio access transport network.

Presently, the RBS, which decides what radio coordination features touse, has no or very little information of the radio access transportnetwork conditions. There is therefore a need for an improved solutionfor determining radio coordination features, which solution solves or atleast mitigates at least one of the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide embodiments solvingthe problem, in a radio base station, of deciding what radiocoordination features to use, having no or limited information of theradio access transport network characteristics.

In particular, it is an object of the disclosure to provide embodimentsestablishing an interface between a radio base station and a nodeassociated with a radio access transport network. Through this interfaceit is possible, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, torequests information from the radio access transport network and forwardthe information in suitable format to the radio base station to assistin the decision of radio coordination features, e.g. to determine if theradio access transport network characteristics meet the requirements ofthe radio coordination features.

A concept involves receiving at least one IP address of specific IPend-points associated with a radio access transport network to which aradio base station is connected and sending a query to a node in theradio access transport network for at least one characteristic for apath between two IP end-points.

The disclosure presents a method performed in a radio base station in aradio access network, of collecting characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points associated with a radio access transport network towhich the radio base station is connected. The method comprises thesteps of receiving an IP address of at least one IP end-point associatedwith the radio access transport network to which the radio base stationis connected, sending a query to a node in the radio access transportnetwork for at least one characteristic for a path between the two IPend-points, and receiving the at least one characteristics for the path.

The disclosed method of collecting characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points, provides for a method to requests information fromthe radio access transport network and receive the information in theradio base station to assist in the decision of radio coordinationfeature e.g. if the radio access transport network characteristics meetsthe radio coordination feature requirements.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed method, in the step ofsending a query, the IP end-points are a first radio base station and asecond radio base station.

Enabling reception of characteristics for a path between a first radiobase station and a second radio base station, provides the advantagethat the radio base station, either represented by the first or thesecond radio base station, better can determine if and what radiocoordination feature to use since the characteristics for the pathbetween the first and the second radio base station is important for thefunction of many radio coordination features.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed method, in the step ofsending a query, the radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or aS/PDN-Gateway in the core network to which the radio access network isconnected are the IP end-points.

Enabling reception of characteristics for a path between the radio basestation and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gateway in the core network,provides the advantage that the radio base station better can determineif and what radio coordination feature to use since the characteristicsfor the path the radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gatewayin the core network is important for the function of many radiocoordination features.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed method, in the step ofsending a query a second radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or anS/PDN-Gateway in a core network to which the radio access network isconnected are IP end-points.

Receipt of characteristics for a path a second radio base station and aPDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gateway in a core network, provides the advantagethat the radio base station better can determine if and what radiocoordination feature to use since the characteristics for the pathbetween a second radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gatewayin a core network is important for the function of many radiocoordination features.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed method, the step of queryfurther comprises sending a query to the second radio base station forat least one characteristic for a path between the second radio basestation and an IP end-point associated with the radio access transportnetwork collected by the second radio base station.

In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosed method, the radioaccess network is an E-UTRAN, Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio AccessNetwork, and the radio base station is an eNodeB, Evolved Node B, in theE-UTRAN.

In accordance with a yet further aspect of the disclosed method, thecharacteristics for a path are any of bandwidth, radio access transportnetwork delay, congestion indication, jitter, buffer usage and syncaccuracy.

The characteristics up to the S/PDN-GW is important to know, especiallythe available bandwidth from different radio base stations, by thisknowledge the radio network can decide which radio base station anactive user should be connected to for optimal end-userperformance/experience.

The characteristics between radio base stations are important to be ableto select an optimal radio coordination feature that depends oncoordinating traffic between radio base stations. E.g. up-link jointreception requires low delay/jitter, high bandwidth and tight time/phasesynchronization. ABS/RPSF requires tight time/phase synchronization, butvery limited bandwidth and can tolerate large amount of delay/jitter.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed method, the step ofquery further comprises sending a query to at least one further node inthe radio access transport network.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed method, the methodcomprising a further step, after the steps of receiving, of receiving atleast one update of characteristics for a path between two IP end-pointsin the radio access transport network.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed method, the step ofsending a query is performed by an I2RS-client, Interface to the RoutingSystem, in the radio base station.

The present disclosure also relates to embodiments of a radio basestation for collecting characteristics for a path between two IPend-point associated with a radio access transport network to which theradio base station is connected comprising a processor and a memory. Thememory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby theradio base station is operative to receive an IP address of at least oneIP end-point associated with the radio access transport network to whichthe radio base station is connected; sending a query to a node in theradio access transport network for at least one characteristic for apath between two IP end-points; and to receive the at least onecharacteristics for the path.

The present disclosure also relates to embodiments of a node forcollecting characteristics for a path between two IP end-pointsassociated with a radio access transport network to which a radio basestation is connected comprising a processor and a memory. The memorycontaining instructions executable by the processor whereby the node isoperative to receive a query from a radio base station connected to theradio access transport network (20), for at least one characteristic fora path between two IP end-points associated with the radio accesstransport network to which the first radio base station is connected,and to determine the at least one characteristics for the path betweenthe two IP end-points. Further also transmit the at least onecharacteristics for the path to the radio base station.

The present disclosure also presents a computer program, comprisingcomputer readable code which, when run in a radio base station causesradio base station to perform the disclosed method.

The radio base station, the node and computer program each displayadvantages corresponding to the advantages already described in relationto the method performed in the radio base station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure willappear from the following detailed description, wherein some aspects ofthe disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cellular communication network inwhich exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can beimplemented.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the proposed methods performed in aradio base station.

FIG. 2a is a flow chart illustrating the proposed methods performed in anode.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating radio base station accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating radio base station accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The methods andwireless device disclosed herein can, however, be realized in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theaspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to likeelements throughout.

The general object or idea of embodiments of the present disclosure isto address at least one or some of the disadvantages with the prior artsolutions described above as well as below. The various steps describedbelow in connection with the figures should be primarily understood in alogical sense, while each step may involve the communication of one ormore specific messages depending on the implementation and protocolsused.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects of the disclosure only, and is not intended to limit thedisclosure to any particular embodiment. As used herein, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide embodiments solvingthe problem of providing network characteristics information to enableselection of optimal radio coordination features.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an interface iscreated between a radio base station and a node associated with a radioaccess transport network. According to an aspect of the presentdisclosure, the interface makes it possible to request information fromthe radio access transport network and forward the information insuitable format to the radio base station to assist in the decision ofradio coordination features e.g. to assess if the network conditionsmeet the requirements associated with the radio coordination features.

A concept involves receiving IP addresses of specific IP end-pointsassociated with a radio access transport network to which a radio basestation is connected and to send a query to a node in the radio accesstransport network for at least one characteristic for a path between twoIP end-points.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cellular communication network 1 inwhich aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented. The cellularcommunication network 1 comprises a radio access network 10. The radioaccess network 10 comprises a radio access transport network 20. Theradio access transport network 20 handles data traffic between radiobase stations 11, 12 and between radio base stations 11, 12 and a corenetwork 30. An example of a radio access network 10 is UTRAN, UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network. The UTRAN is the radio access network10 in UMTS, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. Another radioaccess network 10 is E-UTRAN. The E-UTRAN is the radio access network 10in an LTE system. In the radio access transport network 20 there arenodes 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating embodiments of methodsteps performed in a radio base station 11, 12 in the radio accessnetwork 10, of collecting characteristics for a path between two IPend-point 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio access transport network20 to which the radio base station 11, 12 is connected. In a first stepS1 IP addresses are received for one or more IP end-points 11, 12, 31associated with the radio access transport network 20 to which the radiobase station 11, 12 is connected.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the IP end-points arefor instance a radio base station 11, 12, a PDN-Gateway 31 or aS-PDN-Gateway 31 in the core network 30.

In a next step S2, a node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio accesstransport network 20 is queried for at least one characteristic for apath between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31. According to one exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the node 21, 22 that the radiobase station 11, 12 is connected to is queried. The present disclosureis however not limited to only send a query to the node 21, 22 that theradio base station 11, 12 is connected to. In exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure, a query is sent to another node 23, 24, 25 inthe radio access transport network 20 requesting at least onecharacteristic for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31.

The at least one characteristic for the path between the two IPend-points 11, 12, 31 relates, in one aspect of the present disclosure,to characteristics for the entire path between the two IP end-points 11,12, 31. In other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the atleast one characteristic for the path between the two IP end-points 11,12, 31, relates to characteristics for one link or for several links(not shown) in the path between the two IP end-points 11, 12, 31. Onelink in the path between the radio base station 11 and the radio basestation 12 is according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a linkbetween the node 21 and the node 22 in the radio access transportnetwork 20. Characteristics for the link between the node 21 and thenode 22 in the radio access transport network 20 comprise, according toaspects of the present disclosure, bandwidth, radio access transportnetwork delay, a congestion indication, jitter, buffer usage orsynchronization accuracy.

In a further step S3, the at least one characteristics for the pathreceived in the radio base station 11, 12.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, one of the radio basestations 11, 12 is a master radio base station 11, 12 and the otherradio base station 11, 12 is a slave radio base station 11, 12. Inexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure it is the master radiobase station 11, 12 that decides which coordination features to use.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, it is a responsibility of themaster radio base station 11, 12 to request at least one characteristicfor paths for both the master and slave radio base station 11, 12. Basedon the obtained characteristics information, the master radio basestation 11, 12 decides which coordination feature to use. If the networkcharacteristics do not meet specific requirements, the master radio basestation 11, 12 takes a decision not to use certain radio coordinationfeatures or any of the radio coordination features.

When the radio base station 11, 12 is the master radio base station 11,12 for a UE, User Equipment, (not shown) the radio base station 11, 12also receives information from the UE that it can hear the slave radiobase station 11, 12. Based on this information the master radio basestation 11, 12 takes a radio coordination feature decision that it isbeneficial for the UE to run one or more radio coordination features.But to be able to use and select a radio coordination feature, themaster radio base station 11, 12 must also know the characteristics ofthe radio access transport network 20 for the path between radio basestation 11 and 12.

The master radio base station 11, 12 receives an IP address of at leastone IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio access transportnetwork 20 to which the radio base 11, 12 station is connected.According to one aspect of the present disclosure the radio base station11, 12 receives an IP address of at least one IP end-point 11, 12, 31associated with the radio access transport network 20 to which the radiobase 11, 12 station is connected using ANR, Automatic Neighbor Relation.

The radio base station 11, 12 then sends a query to a node 21, 22, 23,24, 25 in the radio access transport network 20 for at least onecharacteristic for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31.According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the radio basestation 11, 12 sends a query for characteristic for a path between themaster radio base station 11, 12 and slave radio base station 11, 12, aswell as for a path between the master radio base station 11, 12 andPDN-GW 31 and a path between the slave radio base station 11, 12 andPDN-GW 31.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure both the master radiobase station 11, 12 and the slave radio base station 11, 12 send queriesto at least one node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio access transportnetwork 20 for at least one characteristic for a path between two IPend-points 11, 12, 31. In exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the master radio base station 11, 12 sends a query to atleast one node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio access transport network20 for at least one characteristics for a path between the master radiobase station 11, 12 and the slave radio base station 11, 12 as well asfor a path between the master radio base station 11, 12 and thePDN-GW-IP 31.

The master radio base station 11 then sends a query to the second radiobase station 11, 12 for at least one characteristics for a path betweenthe second radio base station 11, 12 and an IP end-point 11, 12, 31associated with the radio access transport network 20; thecharacteristics collected by the second radio base station 11, 12. Themaster radio base station 11 decides which radio coordination feature touse. When the radio access transport network do not meet the specificrequirements, the master radio base station 11, 12 takes a decision notto use one or more radio coordination features or any of the radiocoordination features.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, for the radiocoordination feature to work, it is mainly the radio base station 11, 12to radio base station 11, 12 transport path characteristics that is ofimportance. According to another aspect of the present disclosure someradio coordination features requires high amount of bandwidth as well asvery low delay in the radio access transport network 20. Different radiocoordination features also require different levels of synchronization;some work with frequency synchronization and others require time/phasesynchronization between the radio base stations 11, 12 to work. Thereare also different levels of time/phase synchronization required fordifferent radio coordination features. According to one aspect of thepresent disclosure these are the most important characteristics to makethe radio coordination work.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, if thecapacity from the master radio base station 11, 12 to the PDN-GW 31 islimited, the advantage of using a radio coordination feature for theend-user might also be limited, If the capacity from the slave radiobase station 11, 12 to the PDN-GW 31 is better, the master relationshipcan change to the other radio base station 11, 12 instead, but only ifthe master radio base station 11, 12 has the picture of characteristicsfor relevant IP end-points from the slave radio base station 11, 12point of view as well.

According to a yet further aspect of the present disclosure, when aradio coordination feature has been activated between two radio basestations 11, 12, the master radio base station 11, 12 also receives atleast one update of characteristics for a path between two IP end-points11, 12, 31 in the radio access transport network. An advantage with thisaspect is that the radio base station 11, 12 is able to adapt the radiocoordination based on changes in the characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio access transportnetwork 20.

Turning back to FIG. 2, in the step S2 of sending a query, the IPend-points 11, 12, 31 are the first radio base station 11, 12 and thesecond radio base station 11, 12 according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure. In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, in the stepS2 of sending a query, the radio base station 11, 12 and the PDN-Gatewayor a S/PDN-Gateway 31 in the core network 30 to which the radio accessnetwork (10) is connected are IP end-points 11, 12, 31. As mentionabove, according to an aspect of the present disclosure when the radiobase station 11, 12 is the master radio base station 11, 12, the masterradio base station also sends a query to the slave radio base station toretrieve the slave radio base station's 11, 12 perspective on thecharacteristics for a path between the two IP end-points 11, 12, 31. Inexemplary embodiments of this aspect the step S2 of sending a queryfurther comprises sending a query to the second radio base station 11,12 for at least one characteristic for a path between the second radiobase station 11, 12 and an IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with theradio access transport network 20 collected by the second radio basestation 11, 12.

In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, characteristics fora path comprise bandwidth, radio access transport network delay,congestion indication, jitter, buffer usage and sync accuracy.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure the step S2 ofsending a query further comprises sending a query to at least onefurther node 23, 24, 25 in the radio access transport network 20 for atleast one characteristic for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12,31. In these exemplary embodiments the radio base station 11, 12 firstsends a query to the first node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio accesstransport network 20 for at least one characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points 11, 12. In order to get more characteristicsinformation the radio base station 11, 12 then sends a query to at leastone further node 23, 24, 25 in the radio access transport network 20 forfurther characteristic information.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure the step S2 of sendinga query is performed by an I2RS-client, Interface to the Routing System,in the radio base station.

FIG. 2a is a flowchart schematically illustrating embodiments of methodsteps performed in a node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio accesstransport network 20, of collecting characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio access transportnetwork 20 to which the radio base station 11, 12 is connected. In afirst step S1 a a query from a radio base station 11, 12 connected tothe radio access transport network 20 is received, for at least onecharacteristics for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31associated with the radio access transport network 20 to which the firstradio base 11, 12 station is connected. According to an aspect of thepresent disclosure, the IP end-points are for instance a radio basestation 11, 12, a PDN-Gateway 31 or a S-PDN-Gateway 31 in the corenetwork 30.

In a next step S2 a, the at least one characteristics for the pathbetween the two IP end-points 11, 12, 31 is determined. In a furtherstep S3 a, the at least one characteristics for the path to the radiobase station 11, 12 is transmitted.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure the step S1 a, S2 a, S3a are performed by an I2RS-agent, Interface to the Routing System, inthe node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram is disclosed illustrating anexemplary embodiment of a radio base station 11, 12 for collectingcharacteristics for a path between two IP end-point 11, 12, 31associated with a radio access transport network 20 to which the radiobase station 11, 12 is connected. The radio base station 11, 12comprises a processor 110 and a memory 120, the memory 212 containinginstructions executable by the processor 110. The processor 110 is aCentral Processing Unit, CPU, microcontroller, Digital Signal Processor,DSP, or any other suitable type of processor capable of executingcomputer program code. The memory 212 is a Random Access Memory, RAM, aRead Only Memory, ROM, or a persistent storage, e.g. a single orcombination of magnetic memory, optical memory, or solid state memory oreven remotely mounted memory.

According to one aspect, the disclosure further relates to the abovementioned computer program, comprising computer readable code which,when run on the radio base station 11, 12 causes the radio base station11, 12 to perform any of the aspects of the method described above.

When the above-mentioned computer program code is run in the processor110 of the radio base station 11, 12 it causes the radio base station toreceive an IP address of at least one IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associatedwith the radio access transport network 20 to which the radio base 11,12 station is connected. The computer program codes further causes theradio base station 11, 12 to send a query to a node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25in the radio access transport network 20 for at least onecharacteristics for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31 and toreceive the at least one characteristics for the path.

According to one aspect, the disclosure further relates to the abovementioned computer program, comprising computer readable code which,when run on the radio base station 11, 12, causes the radio base station11, 12 to perform any of the aspects of the method described above.

According to one aspect of the disclosure the processor 110 comprisesone or several of:

-   -   a receiver module 1101 adapted to receive an IP address of at        least one IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio        access transport network 20 to which the radio base 11, 12        station is connected;    -   a query sending module 1102 adapted to send a query to a node        21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio access transport network 20 for        at least one characteristics for a path between two IP        end-points 11, 12, 31, wherein the two IP end-points comprise        the at least one IP end-point 11, 12, 31; and    -   the receiver module 1101 being further configured to receive the        at least one characteristics for the path.

According to one aspect the radio base station 11, 12 is further adaptedto send a query to the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio accesstransport network 20 for at least one characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points 11, 12, 31, wherein the IP end-points 11, 12, 31 arethe first radio base station 11, 12 and the second radio base station11, 12. According to one aspect the radio base station 11, 12 comprisesa query sending module 1102 configured for this purpose.

According to a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 is furtheradapted to send a query to the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radioaccess transport network 20 for at least one characteristics for a pathbetween two IP end-points 11, 12, 31, wherein, a first radio basestation 11, 12 and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gateway 31 in a core network30 to which the radio access network 10 is connected are the IPend-points 11, 12, 31. According to one aspect the radio base station11, 12 comprises a query sending module 1102 configured for thispurpose.

According to a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 is furtheradapted to send a query the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 in the radio accesstransport network 20 for at least one characteristics for a path betweentwo IP end-points 11, 12, 31, wherein, the second radio base station 11,12 and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gateway 31 in a core network 30 to whichthe radio access network 10 is connected are the IP end-points 11, 12,31. According to one aspect the radio base station 11, 12 comprises aquery sending module 1102 configured for this purpose.

According to a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 is furtheradapted to send a query the second radio base station 11, 12 for atleast one characteristics for a path between the second radio basestation 11, 12 and an IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with the radioaccess transport network 20 collected by the second radio base station11, 12. According to one aspect the radio base station 11, 12 comprisesa query sending module 1102 configured for this purpose.

According to a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 is aneNodeB, Evolved Node B, in the E-UTRAN and the radio access network 10is an E-UTRAN, Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network.

According to a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 thecharacteristics for a path are comprises bandwidth, radio accesstransport network delay, congestion indication, jitter, buffer usage andsynchronization accuracy.

In accordance with a further aspect the radio base station 11, 12 isfurther operative to send a query to at least one further node 23, 24,25 in the radio access transport network 20. According to one aspect theradio base station 11, 12 comprises a query sending module 1102configured for this purpose.

According to a further aspect, the radio base station 11, 12 is furtheradapted to receive at least one update of characteristics for a pathbetween two IP end-points 11, 12, 31 in the radio access transportnetwork. According to one aspect, the radio base station 11, 12comprises a query module 1102 configured for this purpose.

According to a further aspect, the radio base station 11, 12 is furtheroperative to query with an I2RS-client, Interface to the Routing System,in the radio base station 11, 12. According to one aspect, the radiobase station 11, 12 comprises a query sending module 1102 configured forthis purpose.

The receiver 1101 and the query sending module 1102 are implemented inhardware or in software or in a combination thereof. The modules 1101and 1102 are according to one aspect implemented as a computer programstored in the memory 212 which run on the processing circuitry 120. Theradio base station 11, 12 is further configured to implement all theaspects of the disclosure as described in relation to the methods above.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a schematic diagram illustrating a node 21, 22,23, 24, 25 of an exemplary embodiment for collecting characteristics fora path between two IP end-point 11, 12, 31 associated with a radioaccess transport network 20 to which the radio base station 11, 12 isconnected comprising a processor 211 and a memory 212, the memory 212containing instructions executable by the processor 211 whereby the nodeis operative to: receive a query from a radio base station 11, 12connected to the radio access transport network 20, for at least onecharacteristics for a path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31associated with the radio access transport network 20 to which the firstradio base 11, 12 station is connected; determine the at least onecharacteristics for the path between the two IP end-points 11, 12, 31and transmit the at least one characteristics for the path to the radiobase station 11, 12. The processor 211 is a Central Processing Unit,CPU, microcontroller, Digital Signal Processor, DSP, or any othersuitable type of processor capable of executing computer program code.The memory 212 is a Random Access Memory, RAM, a Read Only Memory, ROM,or a persistent storage, e.g. a single or combination of magneticmemory, optical memory, or solid state memory or even remotely mountedmemory.

According to one aspect, the disclosure further relates to the abovementioned computer program, comprising computer readable code which,when run on the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 causes the node 21, 22, 23, 24,25 to perform any of the aspects of the method described above.

When the above-mentioned computer program code is run in the processor211 of the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 it causes the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25to receive a query from the radio base station 11, 12 connected to theradio access transport network 20, for at least one characteristics fora path between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31 associated with the radioaccess transport network 20 to which the first radio base 11, 12 stationis connected; determine the at least one characteristics for the pathbetween the two IP end-points 11, 12, 31; and transmit the at least onecharacteristics for the path to the radio base station 11, 12.

According to one aspect, the disclosure further relates to the abovementioned computer program, comprising computer readable code which,when run on the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 causes the node 21, 22, 23, 24,25 to perform any of the aspects of the method described above.

According to one aspect of the disclosure the processor 211 comprisesone or several of:

-   -   a receiver module 2111 adapted to receive a query from a radio        base station 11, 12 connected to the radio access transport        network 20, for at least one characteristics for a path between        two IP end-points 11, 12, 31 associated with the radio access        transport network 20 to which the first radio base 11, 12        station is connected;    -   a determining module 2112 adapted to determine the at least one        characteristics for the path between the two IP end-points 11,        12, 31, wherein the two IP end-points (11, 12, 31) comprise the        at least one of the IP end-points (11, 12, 31);    -   a transmitter module 2113 being further configured to transmit        the at least one characteristics for the path to the radio base        station 11, 12.

According to one aspect, the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 is further adaptedto receive a query for and determine at least one characteristics for apath between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31, wherein the IP end-points 11,12, 31 are the first radio base station 11, 12 and a second radio basestation 11, 12. According to one aspect the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25comprises a receiver module 2112, a determining module 2112 and atransmitter module 2113 configured for this purpose.

According to one aspect, the node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 is further adaptedto receive a query for and determine at least one characteristic for apath between two IP end-points 11, 12, 31, by running an I2RS-agent,Interface to the Routing System, agent. According to one aspect the node21, 22, 23, 24, 25 comprises a receiver module 2112, a determiningmodule 2112 and a transmitter module 2113 configured for this purpose.

The receiver module 2111, the determining module 2112 and thetransmitter module 2113 are implemented in hardware or in software or ina combination thereof. The modules 2111, 2112 and 2113 are according toone aspect implemented as a computer program stored in the memory 212which run on the processing circuitry 211. The node 21, 22, 23, 24, 25is further configured to implement all the aspects of the disclosure asdescribed in relation to the methods above.

Aspects of the disclosure are described with reference to the drawings,e.g., block diagrams and/or flowcharts. It is understood that severalentities in the drawings, e.g., blocks of the block diagrams, and alsocombinations of entities in the drawings, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions, which instructions can be stored in acomputer-readable memory, and also loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus. Such computer programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, a special purpose computer and/or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer and/or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchartblock or blocks.

In some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure,the functions or steps noted in the blocks can occur out of the ordernoted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown insuccession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theblocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved. Also, the functions or steps noted inthe blocks can according to some aspects of the disclosure be executedcontinuously in a loop.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplaryaspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modificationscan be made to these aspects without substantially departing from theprinciples of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as beinglimited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, althoughspecific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, performed in a radio base stationin a radio access network, of collecting characteristics for a pathbetween two IP end-points associated with a radio access transportnetwork to which the radio base station is connected, the methodcomprising: receiving an IP address of at least one of the two IPend-points associated with the radio access transport network to whichthe radio base station is connected; sending a query to a node in theradio access transport network for at least one characteristic for thepath between the two IP end-points, wherein the node is between the twoIP end-points and routes traffic between the two IP end-points; andreceiving the at least one characteristic for the path, wherein the atleast one characteristic of the path comprises at least onecharacteristic characterizing an entire path whose endpoints are the twoIP end-points.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two IP end-pointsare the radio base station and a second radio base station.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the two IP end-points are the radio basestation and a PDN-Gateway or a S/PDN-Gateway in a core network to whichthe radio access network is connected.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe two IP end-points area second radio base station and a PDN-Gatewayor a S/PDN-Gateway in a core network to which the radio access networkis connected.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method furthercomprises sending a query to a second radio base station for at leastone characteristic for a given path whose endpoints are the second radiobase station and an IP end-point associated with the radio accesstransport network collected by the second radio base station.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the radio access network is an Evolved UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and the radio base station isan Evolved Node B (eNodeB) in the E-UTRAN.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the sending a query comprises sending a query for a plurality ofcharacteristics of different types, wherein the different types are anyof: bandwidth, radio access transport network delay, congestionindication, jitter, buffer usage, and sync accuracy.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the sending a query comprises querying at least onefurther node in the radio access transport network.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising, after the receiving the at least onecharacteristic characterizing the entire path whose endpoints are thetwo IP end-points, receiving at least one update of the at least onecharacteristic characterizing the entire path whose endpoints are thetwo IP end-points.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending aquery is performed by an Interface to a Routing System client in theradio base station.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onecharacteristic of the path further comprises at least one characteristiccharacterizing a single link in the radio access transport network. 12.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of thepath further comprises at least one characteristic characterizing a pathsegment of the entire path whose endpoints are the two IP end-points,wherein the path segment comprises several links in the radio accesstransport network.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending aquery to a node for at least one characteristic comprises queryingmultiple nodes in the radio access transport network for at least onecharacteristic for each of multiple different paths whose endpoints arethe two IP end-points.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises based on the received at least one characteristic forthe path, deciding which category of radio coordination features to use,wherein the radio coordination features are categorized into differentgroups based on how tight of a coordination is required.
 15. The methodof claim 1, wherein the entire path is a transport path between the twoIP end-points for transporting traffic between the two IP end-points;wherein the node routes traffic between the two IP end-points over thetransport path; and wherein the at least one characteristiccharacterizing the transport path between the two IP end-pointscharacterizes a transport characteristic for transporting trafficbetween the two IP-endpoints.
 16. A radio base station configured tocollect characteristics for a path between two IP end-points associatedwith a radio access transport network to which the radio base station isconnected, the radio base station comprising: a processor; and memorycontaining instructions executable by the processor whereby the radiobase station is operative to: receive an IP address of at least one ofthe two IP end-points associated with the radio access transport networkto which the radio base station is connected; send a query to a node inthe radio access transport network for at least one characteristic forthe path between the two IP end-points, wherein the node is between thetwo IP end-points and routes traffic between the two IP end-points; andreceive the at least one characteristic for the path, wherein the atleast one characteristic of the path comprises at least onecharacteristic characterizing an entire path whose endpoints are the twoIP end-points.
 17. The radio base station of claim 16, wherein the IPend-points area first radio base station and a second radio basestation.
 18. The radio base station of claim 16, wherein the two IPend-points are a first radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or aS/PDN-Gateway in a core network to which the radio access network isconnected.
 19. The radio base station of claim 16, wherein the two IPend-points are a second radio base station and a PDN-Gateway or aSPDN-Gateway in a core network to which the radio access network isconnected.
 20. The radio base station of claim 16, wherein theinstructions are such that the radio base station is operative to send aquery to a second radio base station for at least one characteristic fora given path whose endpoints are the second radio base station and an IPend-point associated with the radio access transport network collectedby the second radio base station.
 21. The radio base station of claim16, wherein the radio access network is an Evolved UMTS TerrestrialRadio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and the radio base station is an EvolvedNode B (eNodeB) in the E-UTRAN.
 22. The radio base station of claim 16,wherein the instructions are such that the radio base station isoperative to send a query for at least one characteristic by sending aquery for a plurality of characteristics of different types, wherein thedifferent types are any of: bandwidth, radio access transport networkdelay, congestion indication, jitter, buffer usage, and sync accuracy.23. The radio base station of claim 16, wherein the instructions aresuch that the radio base station is further operative to send a query toat least one further node in the radio access transport network.
 24. Theradio base station of claim 16, wherein the instructions are such thatthe radio base station is further operative to receive at least oneupdate of the at least one characteristic characterizing the entire pathwhose endpoints are the two IP end-points.
 25. The radio base station ofclaim 16, wherein the instructions are such that the radio base stationis further operative to send the query with an Interface to a RoutingSystem client in the radio base station.
 26. A computer program productstored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for collectingcharacteristics for a path between two IP end-points associated with aradio access transport network to which a radio base station isconnected, the computer program product comprising software instructionswhich, when run on a processor of the radio base station, causes theradio base station to: receive an IP address of at least one of the twoIP end-points associated with the radio access transport network towhich the radio base station is connected; send a query to a node in theradio access transport network for at least one characteristic for thepath between the two IP end-points, wherein the node is between the twoIP end-points and routes traffic between the two IP end-points; andreceive the at least one characteristic for the path, wherein the atleast one characteristic of the path comprises at least onecharacteristic characterizing an entire path whose endpoints are the twoIP end-points.
 27. A method, performed in a node in a radio accesstransport network, the method comprising: routing, by the node, trafficbetween two IP end-points associated with the radio access transportnetwork, wherein the node is in the radio access transport network andbetween the two IP end-points; receiving, by the node, a query, from theradio base station, for at least one characteristic for a path betweenthe two IP end-points associated with the radio access transport networkto which the radio base station is connected, wherein the at least onecharacteristic of the path comprises at least one characteristiccharacterizing an entire path whose endpoints are the two IP end-points;determining, by the node, the at least one characteristic for the entirepath whose endpoints are the two IP end-points; and transmitting, by thenode, the at least one characteristic for the path whose endpoints arethe two IP end-points.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the entirepath is a transport path between the two IP end-points for transportingtraffic between the two IP end-points; wherein the node routes trafficbetween the two IP end-points over the transport path; and wherein theat least one characteristic characterizing the transport path betweenthe two IP end-points characterizes a transport characteristic fortransporting traffic between the two IP-endpoints.
 29. A node configuredto be in a radio access transport network and between two IP end-pointsassociated with the radio access transport network, the node comprising:a processor; memory containing instructions executable by the processorwhereby the node is operative to: route traffic between the two IPend-points; receive a query, from the radio base station, for at leastone characteristic for a path between the two IP end-points associatedwith the radio access transport network to which the radio base stationis connected, wherein the at least one characteristic of the pathcomprises at least one characteristic characterizing an entire pathwhose endpoints are the two IP end-points; determine the at least onecharacteristic for the path whose endpoints are the two IP end-points;and transmit the at least one characteristic for the path whoseendpoints are the two IP end-points.
 30. The node of claim 29, whereinthe instructions are such that the node is further operative to run anInterface to a Routing System agent.
 31. A computer program productstored in a non-transitory computer readable, the computer programproduct comprising software instructions which, when run on a processorof a node in a radio access transport network and between two IPend-points associated with the radio access transport network, causesthe node to: route traffic between the two IP end-points; receive aquery, from the radio base station, for at least one characteristic fora path between the two IP end-points associated with the radio accesstransport network to which the radio base station is connected, whereinthe at least one characteristic of the path comprises at least onecharacteristic characterizing an entire path whose endpoints are the twoIP end-points; determine the at least one characteristic for the pathwhose endpoints are the two IP end-points; and transmit the at least onecharacteristic for the path whose endpoints are the two IP end-points.